ABSTRACT
In the petroleum sector low oil prices, high cost pressures and rapid technological development have led to higher demands for cost reductions, reorganisations and employee downsizing. The aim of this paper was to: 1) Assess trends and development related to reorganisations, downsizing, job insecurity, psychosocial factors and safety climate from 2013–2015; 2) Explore the correlation between reorganisations, downsizing and psychosocial factors, safety climate and occupational injury in 2015. The study is based on cross-sectional survey data collected every 2nd year, involving all offshore and land based personnel in the petroleum sector. Results show that employees have experienced an increase in reorganisations, downsizing and job insecurity in the period 2013–2015. Furthermore, the results show that employees who have experienced reorganisation and downsizing report higher risk of occupational injuries, poorer safety climate and psychosocial work environment, compared to employees who do not report such changes. The analyses also indicate that the higher risk of injuries reported by those who have been affected by downsizing and reorganisation may be associated with a poorer safety climate and psychosocial work environment.
